The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Backs
By Jason Powell, Associate Editor
April 20, 2005 5:00 PM ET

With so many teams searching for help in the secondary, defensive backs are always in high demand on draft day. As many as seven defensive backs, including linebacker/safety Thomas Davis (who was featured in our linebackers preview), could be selected in round one this weekend. Two of those players, Antrel Rolle and Adam Jones, could be top-10 picks.


Antrel Rolle, Miami-FL
Height: 6-0
Weight: 202
Likely Draft Position: Top 10 Picks
Possible Destinations: Titans, Cardinals, Redskins
NFL Comparison: Chris McAllister

We give Rolle the edge over Adam Jones based on size, strength, and intelligence. Whereas Jones relies on speed and agility, Antrel has the ability to disrupt wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. He ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, which is only average for his position. He might struggle in man coverage against speedy wideouts, but only if his opponents are able to gain separation at the line, which is no easy feat when facing a physical speciment such as Antrel. He gained the reputation as a team leader in college. He's not the trash-talking type like many of the school's famous alumni, but rather he's of the ilk who lets actions speak louder than words.

No, Antrel is not the younger brother of Ravens' cornerback Samari Rolle despite numerous reports to the contrary. The former Hurricane faced his fair share of pro receivers during his college career, and his most notable performance was against Cardinals' wideout Larry Fitzgerald in 2003. Fitz was in the midst of a record-setting season at Pittsburgh when he faced off with Antrel, who held him to just three receptions for 26 yards. There is some speculation that Rolle's lack of speed will cause his future NFL team to move him to safety at some point in his career. It could happen sooner than later if a team such as the Vikings, who have a pair of solid starters at cornerback, select him on draft day. However, it's more likely that Antrel will go to a team that intends to take advantage of his cornerback abilities.


Adam Jones, West Virginia
Height: 5-11
Weight: 187
Likely Draft Position: Top 10 Picks
Possible Destinations: Titans, Cardinals, Redskins
NFL Comparison: Antoine Winfield

Teams that value intelligence more than ability will probably look past Jones, who scored a 13 on his Wonderlic Test. Heck, we thought the test administrators rewarded 13 points to players who spelled their names right. Despite his astonishingly low test score, Adam's 4.45 speed will most likely prevent him from slipping outside the top-10 overall picks this weekend. Although we give the edge in jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage to Rolle, Jones is no slouch in this department despite his small stature. He's never shy when it comes to challenging a wideout at line even if he's going toe-to-toe with a bigger wideout. Adam is also a fierce tackler when teams attempt to run to his side of the field, which is where the Winfield comparison comes into play.

Scouts who favor Jones over Rolle are quick to point out that he can also be a playmaker on special teams. Pac-Man ranks second in Mountaineer history with 59 returns for 1,475 yards and a touchdown during his collegiate career. He also added 21 punt returns for 306 yards and a score. Jones led his squad in tackles with 76 last year, and he also logged three interceptions during his senior season. Despite all of these impressive attributes, we just can't get over that ridiculously low score on the Wonderlic test. We're also willing to wager that most scouts and coaches feel the same way, which is a big reason we give the edge to Rolle.


Carlos Rogers, Auburn
Height: 6-0
Weight: 199
Likely Draft Position: Mid-First Round
Possible Destinations: Redskins, Cowboys, Chiefs
NFL Comparison: Patrick Surtain

The battle between Rolle and Jones for the honor of being the first defensive back picked in the draft has forced Rogers into the background even though he ran a faster 40-yard dash than the two players rated above him. Carlos clocked in a 4.42 seconds, which is over a full second faster than Rolle. Yet unlike Rolle and Jones, Rogers has the reputation for being a liability against the run. He also has some durability issues with his thumbs. He underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb in 2001, and then missed playing time in 2003 after having surgery on his left thumb.

The thumb injuries might explain why Rogers was held to just seven interceptions during his four-year collegiate career. A few more interceptions might have boosted him into legitimate contention with Rolle and Jones, but he'll have to settle for winning the Jim Thorpe Award, which is awarded to the nation's top college defensive back. Despite playing four seasons with the Tigers, Carlos is less polished than some of the other rookie cornerbacks and is at least a season or two away from reaching his full potential. In other words, he is more likely to struggle during his rookie season than some of the other first-year defensive backs.


Marlin Jackson, Michigan
Height: 6-0
Weight: 196
Likely Draft Position: Mid-to-Late-First Round
Possible Destinations: Cowboys, Jaguars, Seahawks
NFL Comparison: Charles Woodson

Tito, get the tissue. Jermaine, stop teasing. Oops, sorry, wrong Jackson family. Unlike Marlon Jackson, Marlin Jackson won't stand in the background and let someone else lead the show. In other words, he was the Michael Jackson of the Wolverine's defense in that he was the unquestioned leader and captain of the squad. He showed incredible versatility during his four-year career by playing and excelling at every position in the defensive backfield. He spent his junior season at safety, but then reverted back to his natural cornerback position last year, when he logged 47 tackles and an interception.

Jackson was suspended for one game during his junior season due to problems off the field. No, it didn't have anything to do with underage houseguests, but rather he was accused of punching a fellow student. No word as to whether he was wearing a sparkling glove at the time of this alleged incident. Most scouts rate Marlin well below the top-three cornerbacks due to inconsistency in coverage and his average 4.49 speed. Yet despite his ordinary 40-yard dash time, Jackson's strength is working in man coverage. He's also a solid contributor against the run thanks to his size and tackling skills.


Fabian Washington, Nebraska
Height: 5-10
Weight: 183
Likely Draft Position: Late First Round
Possible Destinations: Jaguars, Seahawks, Redskins
NFL Comparison: Fred Smoot

Washington is the fastest cornerback in this year's rookie class. He ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine and also registered an impressive 41.5-inch vertical leap. So why do we have the fastest rookie defensive back ranked No. 5 at his position? Because Fabian (don't worry, we would never resort to making lame jokes about washed up pop singers of the same name) lacks the size and strength needed to be effective against bigger receivers and against the run. However, his lack of size is not the result of a lack of effort on his part, as the former Cornhusker has the reputation of being a weight room warrior.

Fabian is living proof of how much emphasis NFL scouts place on speed when it comes to the cornerback position. He was regarded as a late second-round pick until he blew away observers with his lightning quick 40-yard dash time at the combine. Washington logged 13 interceptions during his three-year career with the Cornhuskers. Actually, he could have added to that total had he not dropped so many passes that should have been easy interceptions. Despite his speed, Washington did not serve as a special teams return man in college, although he did return kicks at the high school level.

Other defensive backs to watch: Justin Miller (Clemson), Brodney Pool (Oklahoma), Ernest Shazor (Michigan), Brandon Browner (Oregon State), Eric Green (Virginia Tech), Bryant McFadden (Florida State), Corey Webster (LSU).